The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on January 1, 2008 in Observance of New Year's Day

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on January 1, 2008 in Observance of New Year’s Day.  The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on December 25, 2007 in Observance of Christmas

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 in observance of Christmas.  The Client

 Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

USAC will be performing maintenance on its training site during this weekend.

The maintenance will be performed from 9 P.M. November 16 through 6 P.M. November 18. We apologize for any inconvenience.

FY2008 Application Filing Window Dates Established.

The FY2008 application filing window will open at noon EST on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 and will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 7, 2008. The filing window will be open for 93 days.

Applicants should note that FY2008 Forms 470 can be filed now.

Traditionally, a high percentage of Forms 471 arrive at USAC during the final week that the window is open. We urge you to file early so that:

• You have an opportunity to review your work and make corrections if necessary.
• You can re-file your form if an error you made cannot be corrected.
• USAC has your information and can start reviewing your application.

We also urge you to file online:

• The system notifies you of possible errors and allows you to correct them.
• The system does your calculations for you.
• You can review your information online before you submit it.
• Your information is submitted to us quickly and correctly.

Eligible Services List Issued – USAC will issue a Special Edition News Brief next week announcing the dates of the FY2008 application filing window. (10/26/07 | updated: 11/02/07)

The FCC issued Public Notice FCC 07-182 on October 19, 2007 with an erratum in a Public Notice released October 30, 2007. This public notice released the FY2008 Eligible Services List and waived the requirement that the Eligible Services List be published at least 60 days before the commencement of the filing window.

Please review the Public Notice and the Eligible Services List carefully for details on the products and services that will be eligible for discounts for FY2008 applications.

Online BEAR System Temporarily Unavailable

USAC is aware of a problem between the USAC E-Filing System and the Online BEAR System. Service providers are unable to log in to the BEAR System to review and certify forms filed online by their customers. We are working to identify and resolve the issue.

We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to have this resolved quickly.

FRNs with an invoice deadline of today will automatically be extended to allow us to address this issue.

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, September 3, 2007 in observance of Labor Day.

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, September 3, 2007 in observance of Labor Day. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

If You Invoice USAC on Paper, Use the April 2007 Version of BEAR Form 472 or SPI Form 474

Applicants and service providers who submit invoices (BEAR Form 472 and SPI Form 474) on paper MUST use the April 2007 version of these forms. Submitting earlier versions will result in significant delays because USAC cannot process your invoice until you have resubmitted it using the current version of the form.

FCC Issues Public Notice on Eligible Services List

Today the FCC released a Public Notice (FCC 07-130) [PDF, 52 KB] establishing the comment period for the Funding Year 2008 Eligible Services List.

Comments on the draft Eligible Services List [PDF, 373 KB], which is attached to the Public Notice, are due to the FCC on or before August 10, 2007. Reply comments are due to the FCC on or before August 17, 2007.

On Monday, after the July 30 issue of the Daily Digest is posted to the FCC's Daily Digest webpage, you can click on the link on that page marked "DISPLAY the current issue..." for more information.

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 in Observance of the Fourth of July

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 in Observance of the Fourth of July.  The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Thursday, July 5, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

FCC Directs USAC to Carry Forward $650 Million From Prior Years to Schools and Libraries Program Funding Year 2007

On June 11, 2007, the FCC issued a Public Notice in which it announced that $650 million in unused Schools and Libraries funds will be carried forward from Funding Years 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.  As a result of carrying forward this funding, disbursements to schools and libraries in Funding Year 2007 will increase and support will be provided in excess of the annual $2.25 billion cap.

• Public Notice DA 07-2470

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on May 28, 2007 in Observance of Memorial Day.

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, May 28, 2007 in Observance of Memorial Day. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

Reissue of FY2007 Wave 1 FCDLs

Wave 1 applicant Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) contained some incorrect dates. Funding commitment amounts were not affected; however, USAC will reissue these letters. The correct information for Wave 1 commitments is available from the Data Retrieval Tool and the Form 471 Application Display tool.

Wave 2 FCDLs will be issued once the error has been fixed.

FCC Issues Public Notice on Comment Period for Technology Planning Rules

On April 25, 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice (FCC 07-1846) establishing the comment period on the technology planning rules concerning technology plan creation and approval for applicants in the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Program.  A copy of the petition [PDF, 69KB] filed by the State E-Rate Coordinators Alliance (SECA) requesting clarification and/or waiver of these rules is available on our website.

Comments on technology planning rules are due to the FCC on or before May 10, 2007. Reply comments are due to the FCC on or before May 25, 2007. For information on filing comments with the FCC, please refer to the Public Notice.

USAC Will Release First Commitments for Funding Year 2007 in the Schools and Libraries Program April 23

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) today announced it will release wave one of funding commitment decision letters (FCDLs) to Funding Year 2007 school and library applicants on April 23.  USAC will send letters committing over 21,000 funding requests totaling more than $202 million in Universal Service Fund support.  The FCDLs will notify applicants of funding commitments for Priority One services (telecommunications and Internet access) for all discount bands from 20% to 90%.

Press Release [PDF, 34kb]

Update on FY2005 Waves

USAC has issued the last regular wave of Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) for Funding Year 2005.  USAC is still reviewing the properly completed in-window Forms 471 for which commitments have not yet been made and will continue to issue FCDLs as decisions are reached on those applications.

Funding requests for Funding Year 2005 Priority 2 services will be funded at 80% and above, and denied at 79% and below.  Applications filed after the close of the Form 471 application filing window will not be considered for funding.

In general, for applicants who have not yet received an FCDL, USAC has issued a letter or other communication with additional information about the status of commitments on their FY2005 applications.

USAC Provides Demand Estimate for Funding Year 2007 to FCC

On March 8, 2007, the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) reported to the Federal Communications Commission that $3.69 billion in requested funding has been estimated for schools and libraries seeking discounts for Funding Year 2007. This estimate is based on the dollars requested in 40,354 applications received or postmarked by February 8, 2007, the close of the Form 471 application filing window.

There are several factors that will reduce ultimately the funds requested from the estimated level. First, while efforts have been made to eliminate duplicate requests, inevitably we will discover more duplication as we process these applications. Second, USAC's efforts to assure that funds are committed only for eligible services, for use by eligible entities with the appropriate discount rate, and are otherwise consistent with program rules, will further reduce the demand.

For detailed information, please refer to the FY2007 Demand Estimate [PDF, 666kb].

Spring Training for Service Providers - April 18 and 25, 2007

USAC’s Schools and Libraries Division will conduct two one-day service provider trainings in April.  The purpose of these trainings is to provide service providers with the latest program updates and guidance on how to successfully participate in the Schools and Libraries Program. 

The trainings will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 18, 2007 and Chicago, Illinois on April 25, 2007.

Please stay tuned to USAC’s website and e-mail announcements for registration information, hotel accommodations and presentation materials.  The complimentary registration will be limited to the first 200 registrants per training.

Important RAL Issues

RAL Programming Error and Revised RALs

Due to a programming error, the first batch of Form 471 Receipt Acknowledgment Letters (RALs) for FY2007 contained incorrect information. As a result, USAC will issue revised RALs to all of the affected applicants and reset their 20-day deadline for correcting errors using the RAL process.

The incorrect information appeared in Item 23g (Ineligible non-recurring charges). The incorrect information did not affect the calculation for the value in Item 23h (Eligible pre-discount amount for non-recurring charges).

This problem affected just over 8,000 RALs and just over 19,000 FRNs. The programming error was corrected before the second batch of RALs was issued. Revised RALs for affected applicants should be issued within a few days.

“Contact PIA” Comment on RALs

An incorrect entry in the field “Contract Expiration Date” on your Form 471 is not considered a ministerial or clerical error. It can only be changed under limited circumstances and in consultation with your Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) reviewer.

In the RAL Funding Requests Report, the field “Contract Expiration Date” is marked “Contact PIA” in the area of the report where corrections can be written in. This is not a request to contact PIA.

If you feel you have made an error in this field, make a note of the correction you wish to make and then wait to discuss it until your PIA reviewer contacts you to begin your review. Because USAC cannot process requests in advance of that review, please do not attempt to contact PIA now.

We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience.

Extended Window Assistance from CSB (Updated 02/07/07)

The Form 471 application filing window closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 8. Forms 471 must be received or postmarked by this date to be considered as within the window.

The Client Service Bureau (CSB) will be open extended hours to assist with the application process. Normal CSB hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST on weekdays. For the filing window, CSB will also be open during the following hours:

In addition, if your service provider does not yet have a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN), CSB can provide you with a solution that will allow you to complete your Form 471 Block 5 funding request. However, your service provider must have a SPIN before USAC can make a commitment on your request.

Important Reminder for Pre-Kindergarten Schools (including preschools and Head Start Centers)

In order to be eligible to receive support from the Schools and Libraries program, all entities must meet the federal and state definitions of elementary or secondary school. This means that the state must first consider you to be a school and then USAC will determine if pre-Kindergarten schools in your state are eligible. The Eligibility Table for Non-traditional K-12 Students and Facilities provides a listing of the states that include pre-Kindergarten in their definition of elementary school.

It is possible that some pre-Kindergarten programs in a state will be able to meet both parts of the test and therefore be eligible for funding, while others will not. If you are, for example, a Head Start Center that is not considered a school in your state, you are not eligible for funding, even if the Eligibility Table indicates that pre-Kindergarten facilities are eligible in your state. Please check with your State Department of Education if you are unsure if the state considers you to be a school.